Grimelda’s house was black with grime
and stacked with jars of mold and slime,
and ogre’s breath, and spotted snails,
and oozing goo in rusty pails.

Synopsis (from Amazon’s website):

Grimelda’s house may not be tidy, but it’s cozy, and that’s just the way she likes it. She also likes pickle pie. There’s only one problem—she can’t find the main ingredient in her messy house! Readers who enjoyed Norman Bridwell’s classic The Witch Next Door will love this funny, charming story about the everyday life of a witch.

A cheery, roll-clicking rhyme of a book that is sure to entertain the child reader while its theme of messiness is sure to please parents.

Grimelda is a happy, go-lucky witch who enjoys her messy house until she can’t find the pickle root. So she begins her search of the house and the yard. While successful in finding last year’s bathing suit, no luck on the pickle root. She flies to Zelda’s store but no luck there either. Then she does what everyone has been waiting for and starts cleaning and finds the pickle root. But don’t worry the story doesn’t end there on such a predictable note, the twist thrown in is true to Grimelda’s character and the accompanying consequence.

Kids will enjoy getting immersed into Grimelda’s world – missing pickle root, spell book, scream cheese spread. The illustrator’s child-appealing, messy loose art is a perfect match for Grimelda. I loved the richness the art brings to the character’s world.